Underwater projectile



Jan. 8, 1963 R. MERZ UNDERWATER PROJECTILE Filed June 50, 1959 IN V ENTOR. RUDOLF MERZ Hahn)? 3,071,883 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,071,883 aUNDERWATER PROJECTILE Rudolf Merz, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to CrosmanArms ompany,'1nc., Fairport, N.Y., a corporation of New ork Filed June30, 1959, Ser. No. 823,900

Claims. (Cl. 43-6) The present invention relates to underwaterprojectiles, and more particularly to projectiles adapted to be firedfrom a gas-operated underwater gun while submerged. In a more specificaspect, the invention relates to an elongated hollow spear-likeprojectile which is adapted to be filled with the propelling gas whileit is loaded in the gun so that when the projectile is released it ispropelled through the water with great power and extreme accuracy. Thisis partly due to the fact that the spear is subjected to the maximumpropelling pressure before the spear leaves the barrel of the gun, andpartly due to the fact that the propelling gas fills the hollow spearprior to firing and expands in the spear after it leaves the barrel ofthe gun thus producing an additional reactionary spropelling pressure.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved elongatedhollow spearlike projectile for gaspowered underwater guns. i 1

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved underwaterprojectile of the character described which can be loaded into the gunwhile submerged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved underwaterprojectile of the character described which permits the propelling gasto eject water from the interior of the projectile prior to firing whileit is loaded in the gun.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwaterprojectile of the character described which permits the propelling gasto effectively force the water out of the hollow portion of theprojectile prior to firing and also to seal the hollow chamber in theprojectile to prevent the escape of gas, prior to firing, after thewater is forced out of the projectile.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedunderwater projectile of the character described,- which is simple inits construction, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the drawings,the specification, and the appended claims.

In the drawing: I FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of anunderwater spear constructed according to one embodiment of thisinvention, and showingthe spear inserted in firing position in anunderwater gun with the water outlet of the spear open;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spear shown in FIG. 1showing the water outlet closed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified hollow underwaterprojectile with the water outlet of the spear open; and

FIG. 4 is afragmentary sectional view of the spear shown in FIG. 3'withthe water outlet closed.

An underwater spear constructed according to this invention is adaptedto be used with a gas powered gun such as disclosed in application ofWilliam R. Malcolm, Serial No. 800,503, filed March 19, 1959, andreference may be made to that application for a more detaileddescription of this gun. The gun shown comprises a tube to which isattached a barrel 12. A valve body 14 is secured in the tube 10 and hasa forward portion 16 of reduced diameter around which the spear isadapted to seat when in firing position. A manually-operated valve (notshown) controls the admission of gas from a pres- United States PatentOfiiCC 2 surized cartridge (not shown) through a central bore 17 formedin the valve body 14 into the hollow projectile. A trigger sear 18 isslidably mounted in the tube 10 and is attached to a trigger 19 whichwithdraws the sear from the interior of the tube 10 to release aprojectile held therein.

The projectile is generally referred to as 20. It comprises a tube 22which is closed at its forward end by a plug 24 which is threaded at 26into the tube. The threaded joint between the plug 24 and the tube 22 ispressure sealed by an O-ring 28. The plug 24 has an axial bore 30 thatcommunicates at its rear end with the interior of the tube 22 andcommunicates at its forward end with the rear end of anaxially-extending internallythreaded chamber 32 formed in the plug 24.The plug 24 has a radially-extending duct 34 which communicates at oneend with the interior of the threaded chamber 32 and opens at its otherend with the exterior. A rod 36, which has external threads 40 adjacentits rear end threads into the chamber 32. It has attached at its forwardend a piercing head 38. The rod 36 is rotatably threaded into thechamber 32 so that by turning in oppo-1 site directions the rod 36, theduct 34 may be sealed off or opened, respectively.

The tube 22 has a centering member 44 threaded into it at its rear endwhich is adapted to be positioned around the forward portion 16 eithervalve body 14, and to center the projectile in the gun barrel. An O-ring48 is interposed between the end of the tube'22 and a shoulder 50 formedon the member 44 to seal the threaded joint 46.- Rearwardly of theshoulder 50 is an annular groove 52 in which the sear 18 is adapted toengage. An O-ring 54 is positioned in an internal groove in the member44 to seal the member on the forward portion 16 of the valve body 14.

Assuming that the diver is under water and wishes to reload the gunshown in FIG. 1, the projectile. 20 is inserted into the barrel 1'2 andshoved rearwardly so that the member 44 sealingly fits about the reduceddiametrical portion 16 of the valve body and the trigger sear 18 engagesin the annular groove 52. The rod 36 is then threaded forwardly so thatthe rear end of the threaded portion 40 of the rod clears the inner endof the duct 34. The gun is tilted so that the front end of the spear orprojectile points downwardly and gas is then admitted through the bore17 of the valve body 14 and into the interior of the projectile 20 byopening the previously mentioned valve of the gun. The gas forces thewater contained in the hollow portion of theprojectile through the bore30 into the chamber 32 and out through the radial duct 34. When thediver sees bubbles coming from the duct 34 he merely rotates the rod 36to thread it .inwardly in the chamber 32 thus sealing off the 'duct 34and preventing any further escape of gas. The aforementioned valve isthen shut off, after the pressure in the interior of the projectilereaches the desired amount.

To fire the projectile the trigger 19 is pressed which disengages thetrigger sear 18 from the annular groove 52 thereby permitting the gas toforce the projectile out of the gun.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 a modified spear is shown. This comprises atube 122 which is closed at its forward end by a plug 124 which isthreadably secured to the tube at 126. An O-ring 128 pressure seals thethreaded joint 126. The plug 124 is provided with an axial bore 130which communicates at its rear end with the interior of the tube 122 andat its forward end with the rear end of a chamber 132 which isinternally threaded for a portion of its length. A radial duct 134 whichis formed in the plug 124 communicates at its inner end with the chamber132 and at its other end with the exterior. A rod 136 is permanentlythreaded into .U the chamber 132 by threads 140. This rod has a piercinghead portion 138 attached at its front end. The rear end of the rod 136terminates forward of the radial duet 134. Thus duct 134 is open at alltimes.

Centering member 144 is threadably secured to the rear end of the tube122 at 146. An O-ring 148 which is interposed between the end of thetube 122 and an annular shoulder 150 formed on the member 144 pressureseals the threaded joint 146. An annular groove 152 on the member 144 isadapted to be engaged by the trigger sear 18. An O-ring 154 ispositioned in an internal groove in the member 144 to seal against theforwardly projecting portion 16 of the valve body 14. The forward end ofthe member 144 is partially closed by an annular flange 160 which has acentral opening 162 therethrough. A float ball 170 is disposed in thetube 122 to move between the flange 160 and the rear face 172 ofprojection of the plug 124.

The projectile 100 is loaded int-o the barrel 12 of the gun in a mannersimilar to that described for loading the projectile 20. The gun istilted so that the front end of the spear or projectile pointsdownwardly and when gas is admitted into the interior of the cylindricalmember 144, in a manner similar to that described for the embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the pressure of the gas forces water out of the tube122 through the bore 130 into the chamber 132 and out through the duct134. The ball 170 floats forwardly in the projectile 100 as the water isforced out of the tube 122. When the water is completely forced out ofthe tube 122 the ball 170 engages against the surface 172 of the plug124 closing off the bore 130 thereby preventing any further escape ofgas. The manual valve of the gun is shut off after the pressure withinthe hollow projectile reaches the desired amount. The projectile is nowready for firing from the gun.

Thus, I have provided an improved hollow underwater projectile which isadapted to be fired beneath the surface of the water from a gas poweredgun, and which can be loaded into the gun while the gun is submerged.

While the invention has been described in connection with two specificembodiments thereof it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A projectile for use in a gas-operated underwater gun having abarrel, comprising an elongate tube which is adapted to have its rearend inserted in the barrel of the gun, said tube being open at its rearend whereby water may enter, and gas be admitted into said tube topropel the tube from the gun barrel, a plug closing the forward end ofsaid tube, said plug having a duct formed therein communicating with theinterior of said tube and opening to the exterior of said plug todischarge water from said tube when gas under pressure is admitted tothe rear end of said tube to force the water out of said tube, andafloating member disposed in said tube and movable forwardly andrearwardly therein, said member being adapted to move forwardly with thedischarged water by pressure of the gas admitted to the rear of saidtube, and said member when in its foremost position closing olf saidduct.

2. A projectile for use in a gas-operated underwater gun, comprising anelongate tube, said tube being open at its rear end whereby water mayenter, and gas be received under pressure and being adapted to bemounted at its rear end in the gun, a plug closing the forward end ofsaid tube, said plug having an axial duct formed therein and openinginto the interior of said tube, said plug having a radial duct thereincommunicating at one end with said axial duct and communicating at itsother end with the exterior of said plug for conducting water from saidtube and plug upon introduction of gas under pressure into the rear endof said tube, a member threaded into said plug and extending forwardlybeyond said plug, a floating member disposed in said tube and freelymovable therein, an end member attached to said tube adjacent its rearopen end for keeping said floating member in said tube, said floatingmember being adapted to be forced forwardly through said tube by gaspressure to close off said duct when the water has been expelled fromsaid tube.

3. A projectile adapted to be fired by gas pressure from an underwatergun that has a barrel and that is adapted to hold a source of gaspressure, said projectile comprising an elongate tube adapted to haveits rear end inserted in the barrel of the gun, and having means at itsrear end for mounting and centering it in the barrel of the gun, saidtube being hollow and forming a chamber for reception of gas from thesource in said gun to propel the projectile from the gun, said tubebeing open at its rear end whereby water may enter, and gas be admittedfrom the source into said chamber, a plug secured in said tube at theforward end thereof and closing said tube at its forward end, said plughaving a duct extending therethrough and communicating at its rear endwith said chamber and at its other end with the exterior of said plug,for conducting water from said chamber upon introduction of gas underpressure into said chamber, and closure means movably mounted relativeto said plug and movable on said projectile in opposite directions foropening and closing, respectively, said duct.

4. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein said closure meanscomprises a rod that carries a piercing head at its forward end and thatthreads at its rear end into said plug, and that is manually adjustablein said plug selectively to open and close said duct.

5. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein said closure means ismounted in said tube and is movable in said chamber under pressure ofgas entering the rear end of said tube to close off said duct.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,596,415 Kochner May 13, 1952 2,723,656 Andina Nov. 15, 1955 2,833,266Mares May 6, 1958 2,957,468 Enfield Oct. 25, 1960 2,964,031 Dotson Dec.13, 1960

3. A PROJECTILE ADAPTED TO BE FIRED BY GAS PRESSURE FROM AN UNDERWATERGUN THAT HAS A BARREL AND THAT IS ADAPTED TO HOLD A SOURCE OF GASPRESSURE, SAID PROJECTILE COMPRISING AN ELONGATE TUBE ADAPTED TO HAVEITS REAR END INSERTED IN THE BARREL OF THE GUN, AND HAVING MEANS AT ITSREAR END FOR MOUNTING AND CENTERING IT IN THE BARREL OF THE GUN, SAIDTUBE BEING HOLLOW AND FORMING A CHAMBER FOR RECEPTION OF GAS FROM THESOURCE IN SAID GUN TO PROPEL THE PROJECTILE FROM THE GUN, SAID TUBEBEING OPEN AT ITS REAR END WHEREBY WATER MAY ENTER, AND GAS BE ADMITTEDFROM THE SOURCE INTO SAID CHAMBER, A PLUG SECURED IN SAID TUBE AT THEFORWARD END THEREOF AND CLOSING SAID TUBE AT ITS FORWARD END, SAID PLUGHAVING A DUCT EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND COMMUNICATING AT ITS REAR ENDWITH SAID CHAMBER AND AT ITS OTHER END WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID PLUG,FOR CONDUCTING WATER FROM SAID CHAMBER UPON INTRODUCTION OF GAS UNDERPRESSURE INTO SAID CHAMBER, AND CLOSURE MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED RELATIVETO SAID PLUG AND MOVABLE ON SAID PROJECTILE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FOROPENING AND CLOSING, RESPECTIVELY, SAID DUCT.